AUSTIN, Texas — In the second half of the U.S. men’s national team’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador on Friday, with the Q2 Stadium crowd roaring and the Americans playing some fine soccer against a formidable foe, there were unmistakable signs that things were finally beginning to fall into place for Mauricio Pochettino.
Tasked a year ago with preparing the U.S. team for the 2026 World Cup, the famed Argentine coach had worked, with marginal success, to both implement his tactical plans and get his players to show commitment.
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On Friday, both elements took hold — a promising step for a group with few remaining opportunities to continue building chemistry and elevate their game before the quadrennial spectacle begins in June across North America.
As defender Tim Ream put it, Pochettino is “marrying the tactical ideas and the strategy with playing with energy and aggressiveness. … Now we’re seeing that those two things are starting to come together. It’s fun to see and fun to play.”
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There were hints of progress last month when, days after a drab performance against South Korea, the United States closed camp with a 2-0 victory over Japan. The Ecuador match was another step forward because, aside from a good result against South America’s second-place team in the qualifying tournament, Pochettino seems no longer to have to worry about whether his players are bought in.
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“I think what works the most is that we are here talking about actions, concepts, formations — things like this,” Pochettino said in his postgame news conference. “That, for me, is, after one year, I am so, so, so happy that we don’t talk about other things like commitment, attitude. … That is a massive step up.”
Confidence is growing within the U.S. men’s national team — and players are buying what coach Mauricio Pochettino is selling.
(Omar Vega via Getty Images)
Alarms went off in March, when the U.S. team was listless in finishing last at the four-team Nations League finals. It was a case of bad soccer and bad attitudes. Pochettino shook things up by leaving players off various camp rosters and awarding greater opportunity and responsibility to several newcomers.
Going forward, he said Friday, results will be determined by the quality of the soccer, not questions of devotion and emotion. He was clearly relieved when he said that. With foundational concerns seemingly out of the way, Pochettino is able to focus squarely on tactical plans.
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Against Ecuador, he again turned to an adjusted formation that features three center backs instead of two and wingers who, depending on situational tactics, can drop onto the backline. It seems pretty clear this approach will remain in place in most matches.
“We’re definitely a team that strives off counterattacks,” said Tim Weah, who manned the right flank and was menacing in the attack in the second half. “So having a wing back that’s coming from way behind at full speed, I mean, it just gives everyone the freedom, and that flow is just wonderful.”
Pochettino played with two defensive midfielders — Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris — who hadn’t been in the squad in quite some time. He deployed Weston McKennie in a more advanced central midfield role than usual (alongside Malik Tillman) and provided McKennie the liberty to find space.
Folarin Balogun strengthened his case to be the starting striker at the World Cup with an ever-dangerous performance and the tying goal in the 71st minute.
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“I have so much confidence in Poch and what he’s able to do for us,” Balogun said. “He’s given us so many ideas going forward and added so much structure. I feel like the confidence we have in him is obviously showing and, yes, I do think we’re starting to build momentum and get better results against these top sides.”
Another positive sign for Pochettino was the performance without several 2022 World Cup starters. Because of a tender ankle, star forward Christian Pulisic didn’t enter until late in the game. Antonee Robinson and Alex Zendejas weren’t in uniform. Tyler Adams was with his pregnant wife and Sergiño Dest isn’t in camp.
Zendejas (knee injury) has left camp, while Pulisic and Robinson will be reevaluated ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Australia in greater Denver.
As the delegation began turning its attention to the next test, confidence was growing. Things are still far from perfect and the United States is, by no means, on the cusp of becoming a World Cup contender.
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At the very least, though, things are headed in the right direction.
“Everything takes time,” Tessmann said. “We have a lot of players playing in different systems and playing different positions [with their clubs], and coming into the national team, you have to understand what the coach wants, and you’ve got to understand really quickly.”
Tessmann added, “We’re growing, and we’re getting closer and closer, and the World Cup’s coming, and I think it’s about peaking at the right time, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve.”
